Tech will continue to develop and become more and more ingrained in different parts of our lives. Think about it, even now, whether you’re at work or at home, you’re using a ton of different digital tools and technologies, regardless of what you do or where you live.
This high dependence raises a very important consideration: developing an ethical framework around tech products and services.
In this article, I’ll explore what ethics in tech are, why they’re important, and some ways they can be ensured.
What Are Ethics in Tech?
Ethics are a set of guidelines that define the way we conduct ourselves and interact with society.
From the way we eat dinner to the way we shake someone’s hand, it’s all governed by a set of ethical guidelines that we pick up through our parents, school, friends, and others around us.
When it comes to ethics in tech, the phrase refers to the principles that guide how businesses create, sell, and use different digital tools and technologies. This can refer to tools and technologies they create for consumers or even those they use internally within their organization.
The goal is to consider transparency, societal impact, fairness, potential harms, and individual privacy so that technology can become a force for good, instead of the opposite. The practice of these ethics is important as most tech products and solutions heavily rely on sensitive data, whether it’s customer data or business data.
Misuse of this data could result in concerns such as bias, privacy breaches, or general mistrust in the use of tech, which could impact its potential use.
You might be able to understand this point better if I explained the benefits of tech ethics for both businesses and consumers alike. The next section explores them.
The Benefits of Ethics in Tech for Society as a Whole
From protecting privacy to preventing significant financial losses, let’s explore some of the major ways that practicing ethics in tech can benefit society altogether.
Developing and Maintaining User Trust
Whether it’s customers, employees, or any other business stakeholder, they’re more likely to interact with and trust a business when they are 100% sure that their data is safe and won’t be misused. Failure to do that could result in irreversible reputational damage, losses, or even legal implications.
Preventing Bias and Harm
With technologies such as artificial intelligence, there is an unintentional chance of bias against certain races or ethnicities.
This bias may lead to unfair treatment and possibly even harm. This is particularly concerning in sectors such as recruitment, loan lending, healthcare, or law enforcement, where quick decisions may be needed. By practicing transparency, inclusivity, and fair practices, ethical frameworks can help prevent this.
Protecting Data Security and Privacy
Uncle Ben said it best, “With great power comes great responsibility.” And data is the greatest power anyone can have today.
Businesses need it to stay competitive, but must also invest in measures to protect it. By setting up cybersecurity measures and practicing ethical data handling and storage, they can protect the privacy and well-being of millions, if not billions.
That about covers the benefits, and now let’s take a look at a few ways businesses can set up and maintain ethical standards.
How to Practice Tech Ethics
There are a few steps, as simple as investing in a secure internet provider, that businesses can take to ensure ethical practices in their organization and beyond.
Choose a Secure Internet Connection
While it is not the only one, a secure internet connection is your first line of defense against unethical practices, as the internet is one of the major attack points that hackers use, whether for home networks or businesses.
The best option here is a fiber internet connection, as it’s more secure compared to copper-based or wireless connections.
Devise and Implement Ethical Design Principles
When developing tech products and solutions, the principles behind them should focus on inclusivity and bias-free solutions. Additionally, there must also be transparency in the way data is collected and used, along with a framework to keep the collected data secure.
Set and Implement Training Programs
Education is highly necessary when it comes to ethical practices, as most people are not aware of wrongdoings happening all around them. By setting up training programs, you can raise awareness of common malpractices and prevention methods, such as an ethics hotline.
An ethics hotline is where people can call and report instances of malpractice.
Ethics in Tech – Unlocking the Full Potential of Technology
To work around the negative side and unlock the full potential of tech for our lives, businesses, consumers, and government organizations will need to come together to raise awareness, devise ethical policies, report malpractices, and constantly monitor compliance with the policies in question.
Doing so can help prevent us from becoming victims of the negative side of tech and instead unlock the power of technology to create a fairer, inclusive, and secure world.
